Boy with autism takes NDIS therapy dog fight to court

A BOY, 6, who has autism is taking the National Disability Insurance Scheme to court as he fights for his beloved assistance dog — a black labradoodle called Betty.

A BOY, 6, with autism is taking the National Disability Insurance Scheme to court as he fights for his assistance dog, a black labradoodle called Betty.

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Henry Lee has been denied disability support for Betty despite the agency funding autism assistance dogs in QLD and SA.

“It’s just absurd,” Henry’s father Anthony Worm said. “In the great scheme of things, we are not asking for a lot. We just didn’t think it would be refused.”

Henry Lee is taking the NDIS to court over his assistant dog, Black Betty the labradoodle. Pictures: Stefan Postles

The Geelong West man and his wife Leonie Lee, supported by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA), will fight the NDIS for funding in a Melbourne Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing tomorrow.

In the past six months, Betty has already made a difference to the life of their son, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder and a sensory processing disorder.

When the pup joined the family in December, Henry became less anxious, more independent, finally slept through the night, and had a distraction from hypersensitivity.

“The effect on Henry’s life and the family’s has been profound,” Mr Worm said.

Betty is currently going through her first two years of training to become a qualified assistance dog, at a cost of about $25,000.

Along with further training, accreditation tests and upkeep, the Worm family is set to face costs of more than $50,000 over the dog’s lifetime.

Henry Lee and his family are fighting the NDIS for funding.

Henry Lee gives Black Betty a cuddle.

But no matter the result of the court battle and despite the cost, Mr Worm said Henry would not lose Betty, the loyal dog that sleeps on the end of his bed each night.

“He loves the dog, he’s bonded with the dog, her colour, her smell, her demeanour,” he said.

The hearing is expected to run over two days and a decision is unlikely for months.

VLA executive director for civil justice Dan Nicolson said the NDIS’s refusal to fund supports for participants like Henry was “a failure to give effect to the purpose of the scheme”.

“The whole premise of this scheme is to give people choice and control, and that means listening to what works for an individual and properly tailoring support plans to meet those needs,” he said.

A NDIS spokeswoman said it was “not appropriate” for the agency to comment on matters before the courts.

@ashargoon